How many cubic yards do I need?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet — a block 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft. To get yards from a flat area, multiply length × width × depth in feet, then divide by 27.
The step that trips people up is depth. It is almost always given in inches while length and width are in feet, so it has to be converted first: 4 inches is 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft, not 4.
Worked example: a bed 20 ft × 10 ft at 4 in deep is 20 × 10 × 0.333 = 66.7 cubic feet, or 66.7 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards. Add 10% for settling and you order 3 yards.
How the calculation works
Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft). Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
Weight is estimated from typical bulk densities: topsoil ≈ 2,200 lb/yd³, gravel ≈ 2,800 lb/yd³, sand ≈ 2,600 lb/yd³, concrete ≈ 4,050 lb/yd³. Moisture moves these numbers by 10–20%, so treat tonnage as a delivery-planning figure, not a billing figure.
Suppliers almost never sell a partial yard below a half, so the order figure rounds up to the nearest 0.5 yd³.
Typical delivered material cost per cubic yard
| Material | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Topsoil≈ 2,200 lb/yd³ | per yd³ delivered | $15.00 – $45.00 |
| Mulch≈ 800 lb/yd³ | per yd³ delivered | $30.00 – $55.00 |
| Gravel / crushed stone≈ 2,800 lb/yd³ | per yd³ delivered | $25.00 – $70.00 |
| Sand≈ 2,600 lb/yd³ | per yd³ delivered | $25.00 – $60.00 |
| Ready-mix concrete≈ 4,050 lb/yd³ | per yd³ delivered | $140 – $200 |
| Compost≈ 1,400 lb/yd³ | per yd³ delivered | $30.00 – $60.00 |
| Fill dirt≈ 2,400 lb/yd³ | per yd³ delivered | $8.00 – $25.00 |
Ranges are typical US pricing as of mid-2026 and exclude tax. Delivery is usually a flat $50–150 per trip regardless of quantity, which is why one full load beats two small ones.
What goes wrong on this job
- Order the full amount in one delivery. The trip charge is flat, so a second 1-yard run to cover a shortfall can cost more than the material itself.
- Measure depth in three or four spots and use the deepest. Subgrade is never flat, and the low spots are what leave you short.
- Bulk beats bagged above roughly 1 cubic yard. One yard of mulch is about 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags — at $4 a bag that is $54 in bags versus $30–55 delivered in bulk.
- For concrete, order to the calculated figure plus 10% and have a form ready for the excess. A short pour that sets before the second truck arrives creates a cold joint.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27. A cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
It depends entirely on the material. Mulch is around 800 lb per yard, topsoil about 2,200 lb, gravel roughly 2,800 lb and concrete about 4,050 lb. Wet material can be 20% heavier than the same material dry.
How many cubic yards fit in a pickup truck?
A half-ton pickup with a standard bed holds roughly 1 cubic yard of soil or gravel before you exceed the payload rating, or about 2 cubic yards of light material like mulch. Volume is rarely the limit — weight is.
Should I round cubic yards up or down?
Always up, and add 10% on top. Running out mid-job means a second delivery charge and a visible seam where the new material meets the old.